In session Monday morning, March 14, 2022 Brown County Commissioners voted to appoint Jennifer Broughton to the position of Brown County Attorney effective April 1, 2022. She will fill the position currently held by Shane Britton. Britton ran for Brown County Judge and will be in a runoff election on May 24th against incumbent County Judge Dr. Paul Lilly.
Prior to the vote to appoint Broughton, it was announced that votes cast in the Republican Party Primary were canvassed last week showing Broughton with 5,292 votes. She ran unopposed and won’t face a Democratic opponent in November.
She said she is excited to make the transition to the position.
“I’m excited about it and glad to hear a start date. It’s been such a unique situation,” Broughton said. “I have a very busy private practice, so I was really wanting to hear a start date, a plan. I like to have things as planned out as possible. I’m glad to hear April 1st, I think that sounds great, just excited to get started and make this transition. I think it’s going to be good,” Broughton said.
Statute allows Broughton to continue private practice. “I will have a very small family law practice that I will continue. I do have a lot of open cases and existing clients right now that, of course, I’ll still be taking care of. It is going to be, definitely, a transition and I wanted that to happen,” Broughton said, adding she is glad to be able to transition to public service.
Commissioners went into Executive Session from 9:36 am to 10:16 am to discuss personnel issues related to the county attorney position but took no action once back in open session.
In other business from the Commissioners Court meeting:
The Brown County Burn Ban remains in effect. Brown County Emergency Management Coordinator Darrell Johnston reported that there were four grass fires in the county on Sunday afternoon. The largest fire was north of Bangs on FM 585, burning an estimated 35 acres. Four homes were threatened but were saved.
“We lost one cabin on FM 585. It was not occupied. Some of them (fires) were due to carelessness, another was an accidental electrical short,” Johnston said. Three smaller fires, two acres or less in size, were located in the North Lake subdivision at Lake Brownwood. No structures were lost there.
“I just remind everybody to be safe. With the wind blowing all week it’s going to be dry so everybody be on their guard,” Johnston added.
Johnston also presented and received approval of the updated Emergency Response Plan for Brown County and the cities of Brownwood, Early, Bangs and Blanket. The plan will now go to each city for approval.
Commissioners heard from Mr. Russell of Rite of Passage, The Oaks Academy concerning possible approval to fix plumbing issues in the Ray West Juvenile Justice Center where a water line has caused structural damage. Contractually the county is responsible for structural damage repair. It was recommended to Commissioners that their insurance company should be called first before proceeding.
Commissioners gave approval to Sheriff Vance Hill for employee changes in the Sheriff’s Department and approved a small $40 gift to the Sheriff’s Department from a local business.